Recover Wilson County’s Long Term Recovery Relief Team is here to walk alongside you or anyone you know affected by the storms on March 3, 2020. A Long Term Recovery Group is a cooperative body made up of representatives from faith-based, non-profit, government, business and other organizations working within a community to assist individuals and families as they recover from disaster in a holistic, sustainable and equitable way. You can go to recoverwilson.com to find available resources.

We additionally, advise you will reach out to Tornado Recovery Connection who have hired caseworkers to work alongside our team. This ensures we are able to best assess needs survivors in the community may have now, or in the future. Please leave a message at 615-270-9255 and your call will be returned by a case manager from Tornado Recovery Connection. TRC will confidentially document your information and connect you with the Recover Wilson Team. Above all, our team seeks to ensure you know that you are not alone and we are here to serve each affected community member equally as we walk together towards recovery.

Drug Free WilCo will host a Facebook Live Event on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 2:30PM. Mike Ayalon will moderate for DrugFree WilCo with speakers Erika Lathon of Addiction Campuses; Ralph Cook of Lantern Lane Farms; Will Taylor, Regional Opioid Prevention Specialist; and Daryl Crouch, Pastor Green Hills Church and Everyone’s Wilson. Visit facebook.com/drugfreewilco and learn about how they are able to provide much needed support to those in need during these challenging times. All are welcome to view and listen to this call!

The Wilson County debris removal contractors will soon begin debris removal on Wilson County maintained roads in response to the tornado of March 3, 2020.

The cities of Lebanon and Mt. Juliet are handling debris removal as well. For those who live within the city limits of Lebanon or Mt. Juliet, contact Lebanon City Hall or Mt. Juliet City Hall for more information regarding clean-up.

The Wilson County contractors are currently prioritizing debris removal based on the tornado path only. Residents of impacted areas are asked to place any tornado-generated debris on the public right-of-way. The public right-of-way is the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement.

Normal household trash or “spring cleaning” waste will not be collected.

Only loose debris will be collected, BAGGED DEBRIS SHOULD NOT be placed on the public right-of-way. Do not place debris near a water meter vault, fire hydrant or any other above-ground utility. Only debris placed on the public right-of-way will be eligible for collection until further notice.

If you live on a county road and have tornado-generated debris, please move it to the right-of-way as soon as possible.

The Wilson County contractors will make multiple passes through the impacted areas. For more information, please call Thompson Consulting at (305)310-2373.

The Tennessee Department of Health offers drive-thru COVID-19 testing in various locations throughout Tennessee. If you have health concerns or have concerns about the health of a family member, you are invited to receive testing for COVID-19. The Wilson County Health Department offers FREE drive-thru testing. To schedule a drive-thru test, contact the Wilson County Health Department at (615)444-5325.

The Wilson County Health Department is located at 927 East Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, TN 37087.

On March 24, 2020, Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order No. 19, which suspended requirements for vehicle emissions testing in Tennessee from March 12, 2020 to May 18, 2020.

Executive Order No. 19 Amended Executive Order No. 15, which extended the expiration date on motor vehicle registrations that expire from March 12, 2020 through May 18, 2020. The expiration date was suspended to June 15, 2020.

“Suspending requirements for vehicle emissions testing in counties that conduct testing is necessary,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “Tennessee families are responding to many restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19, and this action helps alleviate some of the difficulty Tennesseans are facing at this time.”

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Air Pollution Control will update Tennesseans as to when vehicle emissions testing services are available so that vehicles may be tested prior to June 15, 2020.

The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-4-104(a)-(d), are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to delay the expiration of all valid motor vehicle registrations set to expire between March 12, 2020 and May 18, 2020. Such motor vehicle registrations shall instead expire on June 15, 2020; provided, however, that such registrations shall return to their original renewal schedules in subsequent years.

Therefore, vehicle emissions testing has been suspended until further notice.

Driver's Licenses

The provisions of the Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 55-50-336 and 55-50-337, are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to delay the expiration of all valid Class A, B, C, D, P and M driver licenses and Class ID photo identification licenses set to expire between March 12, 2020, and May 18, 2020. Such licenses shall instead expire six (6) months for the current date the license is set to expire.

The provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1351(n)(1), are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to delay the expiration of a valid enhanced handgun carry permit set to expire between March 12, 2020 and May 18, 2020. Such permits shall instead expire (6) months from the current date the permit is set to expire.

Please call the Wilson County Clerk’s Office during normal business hours for more information.

While services continue to be provided, our county buildings will generally be closed to public walk-in access until further notice. County employees are at work and can be reached by phone, internet, and mail during regular office hours.

For information on how to reach your county service by phone, please see the list of contact information here.

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, homeowners, private non-profit organizations, and renters.

These loans may be used to repair or replace items that were damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster. This includes properties such as real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.

To learn more about how you may qualify and how to begin an application with the U.S. Small Business Administration, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ .

This information is based on the U.S. Small Business Administration and its website https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ .

The three fact sheets below provide information for disaster survivors seeking assistance.An application status can be checked online at www.disasterassistance.gov.Disaster survivors may also access FEMA via smartphone and download the application from www.fema.gov .

The Census Bureau is interested in hiring temporary employees throughout Wilson County as they ramp up for the 2020 Census. Most of these jobs are work from home in local neighborhoods, have flexible hours and start at $16.50/hour + mileage with paid training and weekly pay. Apply here.

Wilson County has a long history of agriculture. This coming week, the Wilson County Agricultural Hall of Fame will hold a banquet honoring agriculture in our community and celebrate the efforts of four of Wilson County’s most distinguished farmers: Dr. Sam McFarland, Mr. Hale Moss, Mr. David M. Tomlinson and Mr. AC Wharton Jr.

All four of these individuals have helped to shape the landscape of agriculture in our community. Without their contributions, Wilson County as a whole would not be what it is today. Since the founding of Wilson County in 1799, Agriculture has played a valuable role in our community. Through the efforts of the Wilson County Agriculture Hall of Fame, Wilson County farmers of the present and past are commended and celebrated.

The Wilson County Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at the Wilson County Expo Center at 6:00 PM. Tickets for the event are $20 each and can be purchased by calling Diane Major at 615-444-1890 ext 3. Jordan’s Catering will be preparing the meal for the evening. This event is one that our community cherishes every year. The men and women that are honored at the banquet are well deserving of our gratitude for all that they have done. We hope to see you there!

Over the next few weeks on Mayor Hutto's Blog, we will be featuring "The Spring Clean Series". The goal of the series is to feature some of the latest and greatest happenings with Wilson County Government's effort to provide a greener, and cleaner county. We felt there was no better way to start off our series than featuring the success of the recent 100K Tree Giveaway hosted by the Wilson County Stormwater department.

The annual event, held on February 25th, was so successful that there were over 3400 trees given away to Wilson County residents, absolutely free. Wilson County Stormwater set up at the Wilson County Expo Center at 7:00 AM and handed out trees until noon. There were 4 workers on site and not a minute of downtime as citizens flocked to receive their trees. The most popular tree of the day was Pine followed closely by the new American Plums, offered for the first time this year.

Lisa Baldwin, Administrative Assistant in the Stormwater Department, had the following to say regarding the tree give away: “We were so pleased to be a part of this massive event! The quality of the water in Wilson County is our main concern. Trees being natural filters of water are a tremendous help to this system. With as much growth as we are having in Wilson County, planting trees is quite an asset to the cause.” Next year, Wilson County Stormwater plans to increase the number of trees given away to 4000

There is a large push locally and throughout the state to shop local this Christmas. Aside from supporting local business owners, did you know when you shop locally here in Wilson County you are supporting a variety of other services that are available to every Wilson County resident throughout the year as well? By simply living in Wilson County and contributing to our economy, you play a significant role in every service Wilson County Government is able to provide individuals from all backgrounds and income levels. With the push to shop locally many people begin to ask the question “What do I receive for my county tax dollars?” Citizens seem to easily notice the benefits of city taxes; however, many people have a hard time determining where county taxes are applied. Because of this, we thought it would be a good idea to give the citizens of Wilson County a little more information on how county tax dollars are used.

First and foremost, your tax dollars go to support education in Wilson County. Your tax dollars support schools throughout the county through the Wilson County School System as well as the Lebanon Special School District. Though the Lebanon Special School District collects revenue through an extra tax placed on those that live inside their district, they also receive a portion of funding through county property tax and sales tax revenue (The same taxes that go to support the Wilson County School System). The property tax and sales tax revenue pays for the operation of schools, teacher pay, and other expenses but also goes towards the construction of new schools as the county continues to grow. To date, around 93% of the total indebtedness of Wilson County goes to schools alone.

IT IS THE POLICY OF WILSON COUNTY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964; 49 CFR, PART 21; RELATED STATUTES AND REGULATIONS TO THE END THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN OR BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECTED TO DISCRIMINATION UNDER ANY PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE GROUNDS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, AGE, DISABILITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

JavaScript is unavailable or disabled; so you are probably going to miss out on a few things. Everything should still work, but with a little less pzazz!